Display device



Dec. 24, 1935e H. L, MYERS DISPLAY DEVICE Filed Feb. 14, 1955 2Sheets-Sheei l l I x I llllllllhlill-Illll 'fr' 9L ATTRNEYS 24, 1935. H.L. MYERS 2,925,522

' DISPLAY DEVICE y Filed Feb. 14, 1955 2 sheetS-sneeiz l o .I1/@n s Jfg@ 22a Wij. Pif/0 25 23 5 Mg ff/ 20L v NVENTOR A TTORNE K5 PatentedDec. 424, 1935.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Claims.

My invention relates to devices for displaying articles of merchandisein an attractive manner and more particularly to display devices of theindicated type which include holding sections adapted to removably holdthe merchandise in display positions. Experience has shown that in manyinstances it is desirable to make the aforesaid holding sections oftriangular form or arrangement because of the rigidity and otheradvantages of such holding sections; the rigidity of such triangularholding sections as constructed up to the present however has thedisadvantage that it prevents the display device from being folded to ailat condition and accordingly develops diiiculties in shipping andstoring the display devices of which such triangular holding sectionsform a part. The object of the invention is to provide a display deviceof novel construction in which all of the advantages of the aforesaidtriangular holding sections are retained and in which in addition saidholding sections are readily foldable to a flattened condition whichfacilitates storing and shipping; the invention contemplates further theprovision of a foldable arrangement in which the adjustment of thedevice from its folded condition to an operative condition automaticallyadjusts the holding section or sections to an operative peaked positioncorresponding in efficiency to the triangular holding sections ofprevious devices. Other objects will appear from the descriptionhereinafter and the features of novelty will be pointed out in theclaims.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate examples of the inventionwithout defining its limits, Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one form ofthe novel display device in its operative condition; Fig. 2 is a frontview of said display device in its folded condition; Fig. 3 is a sectionon the line 3-3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig.2; Fig. 5 is a fragmentary rear view of the device in its foldedcondition; Fig. 6 is a view of the blank from which the device shown inFigs. 1 to 5 inclusive is constructed; Fig. 7 is a front View of anotherform of the device; Fig. 8 is an edge view thereof and Figs. 9 and 10are edge views of another form of the device showing the same in anoperative and a folded condition respectively.

In all of its forms the novel display device consists essentially of abody portion and at least one and preferably two foldable holdingsections arranged in spaced parallel relation to each other vand ofpeaked form in their operative positions,

in association with foldable means hinged to the body portions and tothe holding section or sections respectively, and adapted to fold saidholding sections to a flattened inoperative position and toautomatically adjust said holding sections to their operative peakedform.

In the form shown in Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive, the body portion of thedisplay device consists of a main panel i I and two rear panels i2 whichin the illustrated example overlap each other and lie in surfaceengagement with the rear face of 10 the main panel II, as shown in Fig.3; the rear panels I2 are. fastened to the main panel II in any suitablemanner as by means of wire staples or stitches I3. In the form now beingdescribed the holding sections Irl extend vertically of the device inspaced parallel relation and, as shown in Fig. l, each consists of twomembers hinged together at I5 and having their inner edges hinged to themain panel at It. The holding sections I4 are provided with any suitablemeans for 20 receiving and removably holding the articles of merchandisefor which the particular display device is designed; in the illustratedexample the means referred to is shown in the form of circular openingsI'I dimensioned to receive cylindrical 25 articles of merchandise suchas indicated at I8. by dotted lines in Fig. 3. A's shown in Fig. 3, therear panels l2 project in opposite directions beyond the main panel IIto provide projecting portions to which the previously mentionedfoldable means is hinged. In the form under discussion this foldablemeans consists of rear flaps I9 hinged along their inner edges at 2li tothe projecting portions of the rear panels I2 and hinged along theirouter edges at 2l to front flaps 22 35 which in turn are hinged alongtheir inner edges at 23 to the outer edges of the holding sections I4.The parts are so designed and dimensioned that in the operative positonof the holding sections Ill the hinge 2e is located between the 40hinges l5 and 23 and preferably in registry with, the hinge I5, wherebythe two members of each holding section I4 are foldably connectedtogether, or otherwise expressed, in registry with the ridge of thepeaked holding section; in the aforesaid operative position of the partsthe foldable means occupies a position in which it lies in the plane ofthe body portion, that is the front flaps 22 lie in the plane of themain panel I I and the rear flaps IS correspondingly lie in the plane ofthe rear panels i2. In this adjustment of the device, the holdingsections I4 are accordingly adjusted to peak form with the openings IIthereof in position to receive the articles of merchandise I8 in themanner indicated in Fig. 3. 55

It will be noted when the articles of merchandise iii are in position inthe holding sections iii illustrated inFig. 3 that said articles i8extend in opposite directions beyond the hinges 2li and accordinglyserve toi stiifen the device and prevent the parts from foldingunintentionally on said hinges 2t. To fold the device to a fiattened.`condition, the foldable means, that is the rear flaps Ie thereof arefolded rearwardly of said rear panels i2 on the hinges 2i! to theposition illustrated in Fig. 4. As this rearward folding of the rearflaps i9 takes place, the members of the holding sections I4 are foldedon the hinges le, i5, and 23 respectively, so as to occupy theY foldedflattened condition shown in Fig. 4 in which the two members of eachholding section are located upon opposite faces of the devicerespectively. As the rear flaps I9 are folded forwardly into the planeof the rear panels, the front flaps 22 will be likewise folded forwardlyinto the plane of the main panel il and will automatically adjust theholding sections I4 to the operative peak form shown in Figs. 1 and 3.This is due to the fact that the dimensions of the two members of eachholding sections I4 between the hinges iii and I5, and I5 and 23, and ofthe front iiaps 22 between the hinges 23 and 2! are greater than thedimensions of the rear flaps I9 between the hinges 2@ and 2I'. Anysuitable means may be included in the device for supporting the same inoperative position; in the form now being described this means comprisesan extension 2li of the main panel II.

`In the form shown in Figs. "I and 8 the holding sections Iiiacorresponding to the holding sections ifi of the form first described,extend in horizontal parallel relation to each other and are hingedalong their inner edges at Iiia to the main panel I Ia and along theirouter edges at 23'(L to the front flaps 22a of the foldable means. Thesefront fla-ps are hinged at 2Ia to the rear flaps I9a which, as in thefirst form, have their inner edges hinged at 20a to the projecting-portions of the rear panels I2e. The latter as in the form firstdescribed are located in surface engagement with the rear face of themain panel IIa and are secured in place in any convenient manner as bywire staples or stitches I3f-. In the form now being described thefoldable means at the upper end of the device may constitute the meanswhereby the device may be suspended in displayY position and for thisreason is of somewhat increased dimensions. Because of this and to addto the rigidity of the display device fas'- tening devices such as wirestaplesor stitchings 25 may be located at intervals inregistry with thehinge 23a for the purpose. of fastening the front iiaps 22@ and the rearflaps I9a together-on said hinge 23a at said upper end of the device.

This form of the device is foldable in the same manner as described withrespect to the first form; that is, by folding the front Vflaps 22a andthe rear flaps i921 rearwardly on the hinges 23a, the holding sectionsIda will be folded to a fiattened inoperative condition in the same wayas previously described. When the flaps 22a and Isa are folded forwardlyin the manner set forth with respect to the flaps 22 and I9, the holdingsections Ida will be automatically adjusted to their operative peakedform in the same way as previously described. In the form shown in Figs.9 and 1i), flaps corresponding to the front flaps 22 or 222L have beendone away with and the rear flaps have been replaced by correspondingiiaps I9b of reduced dimensions and hinged directly along their outeredges to the outer edges of the holding sections Illb, as indicated at23h in Fig. 9; the flaps I9b are hinged along their inner edges at Zb tothe projecting portions of the rear panels I2b in the same 5 wayas inthe other illustratedforms of the device. Otherwise, the form now underdiscussion may be the same as either of the two forms previouslydescribed and is adjustable to fold the holding sections to a flattenedcondition and to the peaked 10 operative condition in the same way as inthe two other forms illustrated in the drawings. It will be understoodthat in the two forms shown in Figs. 7 to 10, the arrangements are suchthat the hinges 29a and 2Gb, in the operative condition of 15 thedevice, are located in registry with the hinges Vwhereby the two membersof each holding section are hinged together; in other words, in all ofthe forms of the device the hinges 2e, Qta, and 2l)b are located inregistry with the ridges of the holding 20 sections when the latteroccupy their peaked operative form.

In the illustrated examples the hinges referred to in the descriptionare shown in the form of score lines which is the simplest way ofproducing 25 the desired results; it is to be understood however thatsuch score lines are not intended to arbitrarily indicate the only formof hinge which may be utilized in the construction of the device in allof its forms. It is further to be understood that 30 the openings Il maybe replaced by other types and forms of means for receiving andremovably holding the articles of merchandise, the character of suchholding means being dependent upon the nature of the articles ofmerchandise for which 35 the device, in each instance, is designed.

The novel device involves no difficulty in its construction and as isevident retains all of Vthe advantages inherent in the triangular formof holding sections and at the same time includes the essentialadditional advantage that the device as a whole is foldable to aflattened compact cone dition whereby storage and shipping is greatlyfacilitated.

Various changes in the specific forms shown and described may be madewithin the scope of the claims without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

I claim:

1. A display device comprising a main panel, a pair of rear panels lyingin surface engagement with the rear face of said main panel and securedthereto, said rear panels projecting beyond opposite edges of said mainpanel, foldableholding sections hinged along their inner edges to saidopposite edges of the main paneland ofr peaked form in their operativepositions, rear naps hinged along their inner edges to the projectingportions of said rear panels, and front aps hinged to the outer edges ofsaid rear flaps and to the outer 50 edges of said holding sections, saidrear naps being foldable rearwardly of said rear panels to fold saidholding sections to flattened inoperative positions and forwardly intothe plane of said rear panels to automatically'adjust said holding 65sections to operative peaked form-.-V

2. A display device comprising axmain panel, a pair of rear panels lyingin surface engagement with the rear face of said main panel and securedthereto, said rear panels projecting beyond 0pposite edges of said manpanel, foldable holding sections hinged along their inner edges to saidopposite edges of the main panel and of peaked form in their operativepositions, and rear flaps hinged along their inner edges to theprojecting 75 portions of said rear panels and foldably connected withthe outer edges of said holding sections, said rear flaps being foldablerearwardly of said rear panels to fold said holding sections toflattened, inoperative positions and forwardly into the plane of saidrear panels to automatically adjust said holding sections to operativepeaked form.

3. A display device comprising a main panel, a pair of rear panels lyingin surface engagement with the rear face of said main panel and securedthereto, said rear panels projecting beyond opposite edges of said mainpanel, foldable holding sections hinged along their inner edges to saidopposite edges of the main panel and of peaked form in their operativepositions, and rear flaps hinged along their inner edges to theprojecting portions of said rear panels and having their outer edgeshinged directly to the outer edges of said holding sections, said rearflaps being foldable rearwardly of said rear panels to fold said holdingsections to flattened inoperative positions and forwardly into the planeof said rear panels to automatically adjust said holding sections tooperative peaked form.

4. A display device comprising a main panel, a. pair of rear panelslying in surface engagement with the rear face of said main panel andsecured thereto, said rear panels projecting beyond opposite edges ofsaid man panel, foldable holding sections hinged along their inner edgesto said opposite edges of the main panel and of peaked form in theiroperative positions with their ridges in registry with the outer edgesof said rear panels, and means foldably connected with said outer edgesof said rear panels and with the outer edges of said holding sections,said means being ioldable relatively to said rear panels to fold saidholding sections to flattened inoperative positions and to automaticallyadjust said holding sections to operative peaked form respectively.

5. A display device comprising a body portion, a ioldable holdingsection hinged to said body portion and of peaked form in its operativeposition, and foldable means hinged to said body portion and to saidholding section, the hinge connecting said means with said body portionbeing located between the hinges whereby said holding section isconnected with said body portion and means respectively and lying inregistry with the ridge of said holding section is in its peakedoperative position, said means being foldable' to fold the said holdingsection to a flattened inoperative position and to its operative peakedform respectively.

HAROLD L. MYERS.

